Sap-spout



(No Model.)

J. w. OU RR IERL SAP SPO UT.

Patented Feb. 23, 1892.

UNITED STATES,

PATENT Fricn.

JOHN IV. OURRIER, OF NORTH TROY, VERMONT.

SAP-SPOUT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 469,232, dated February28, 1892.

Application filed June 1. 1891- Serial No. 394,632- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. OURRIER, of North Troy, in the county ofOrleans, State of Vermont, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Sap-spouts, of which the following is a descriptionsufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable any person skilled in theart or science to which said invention appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specification, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improvedsap-spout; Fig. 2, a like View representing the same in use; Fig. 3, avertical transverse section of the spout and cover; and Fig. 4., anenlarged top plan View, the bucket-cover being broken away to show thespout-duct.

Like letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding parts inthe different figures of the drawings.

My invention relates especially to a spout for collecting sap frommaple-trees; and it consists in certain novel features hereinafter fullyset forth and claimed, the object being to produce a simpler, cheaper,and more effective device of this character than is now in ordinary use.

The nature and operation of the improvement will be readily understoodby all conversant with such matters from the following explanation.

In the drawings, A represents the spout considered as a whole. Saidspout comprises a body portion 13, centrally in which a sapduct 1) isformed. On the under side of said body, near its inner end, a hook cl isconstructed for supporting the sap-pail C. The outer end of the spoutbelow the duct I) has a downwardly-projecting lip f. Two eyes it projectvertically from the top of the spout, respectively, at opposite sides ofthe duct. On the inner end of the body B a blade D is formed, the outerend of said blade being beveled or reduced slightly, as at 2', inFig. 1. Notches j 75 are formed, respectively, in the lower and upperedges of the blade. At the point of meeting of the blade or body D saidbody is reduced slightly at m, and horizontally through said reducedportion at opposite sides of the blade branch ducts p (see Fig. 4) leadinto the main duct Z2.

holes for receiving the spout-eyes h.

The duct Z) is represented as open at the top, but may be closed, ifpreferred. On said body, at the inner end of said duct, an undercutshoulder or lip 15 is formed.

In the use of myimprovement the sap-hole n being formed in the treeE inthe usual manner, the spout A is driven therein, the point of its bladeD penetrating slightly the body of the tree at the bottom of the hole1). The reduced portion m of the spout-body enters that portion of thehole 12 surrounded by the bark z of the tree, and forms a bearing forsaid spout. By this means the grain of the wood is in no mannercompressed by the spout when inserted in the sap-hole, the only bearingof said spout in the tree being the point of the blade at the bottom ofsaid hole and the reduced body portion in the bark. The bucket G issuspended from the hook (I, which is passed through a hole in the wallof said bucket directly under its rim as in the ordinary manner, themouth of said spout projecting from the bucket, as shown in Fig. 2. Asit is essential to oover the top of the bucket to prevent fallingparticles from entering the sap collected therein, I supply a thinmetallic sheet H, which is provided with 1e edge of said sheet isinserted under the undercut shoulder 25 of the spout, the eyes itprojecting through the openings in said sheet. A pin 15 is inserted insaid eyes, whereby said sheet is secured in position 011 said spout. Thesheet thus projects outward from the mouth of said bucket, serving as acover therefor, but is so arranged thatsaid bucket can be removed andreplaced by others without the necessity of detaching the cover. Sapfrom the hole Q) passes through the branch ducts p intothe duct 6, andis discharged into the bucket in a manner which will be readilyunderstood without a more explicit description.

It will be seen that my improved spout in no manner interferes with orcrushes the grain of the tree. The blade of said spout being thin andonly partially filling the hole permits a steady and uninterrupted flowof sap from said spout. The notches j in the blade, being formed nearthe inner end of the body of the spout, also tend to permit freecirculation of the sap.

dercut shoulder t and lug h, in combination IO with the cover H and apin 15 for securing said cover to said lugs, substantially as described.

' JOHN W. CURRIER.

Witnesses:

JAMES L. MASON, WM; G. ELKINS.

